Device for mooring boats



Nov. 17, 1959 A. JENSEN DEVICE FOR MOORING BOATS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMay 5, 1958 Nov. 17, 1959 F. A. JENSEN DEVICE FOR MOORING BOATS 3Shegts-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1958 Nov. 17, 1959 F. A. JENSEN DEVICE FORMOORING BOATS 3 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 5, 1958 United States PateDEVICE FOR MOORING BOATS Frank Alan Jensen, Stratford-upon-Avon, EnglandApplication May 5,1958, Serial No. 732,925

11 Claims. (Cl. 114-230 The present invention relates to a new orimproved device for use in mooring boats.

At present a normal type of mooring for a boat comprises an anchorengaging in the sea bottom, an anchor chain secured at one end to theanchor and at the other to an anchor line attached at its upper end to abuoy. The usual procedure in making fast a boat to a mooring of thistype is to attemp to engage the anchor line beneath the buoy with a boathook, this operation being performed by one of the boats crew stationedin the forward part of the boat, and to haul the anchor chain aboard bymeans of the anchor line subsequently securing the boat to the anchorchain.

The engagement of the anchor line often requires considerable skill andmay be extremely difficult under adverse conditions such as in badweather or when the crew consists only of a single individual who hasalso to act as helmsman, in which latter case it is necessary for thisindividual temporarily to leave the tiller in order to perform thisoperation whilst relying upon the boat staying on course.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a meanswhereby the anchor line may be more readily engaged and taken aboard,with reduced risk of the member of the crew concerned falling overboardso that it.becomes a comparatively simple matter to make the boat fastto a mooring even under bad weather conditions and in a case where thecrew consists of a single individual.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

According to the invention I provide in a boat, a mooring devicecomprising a boom, mountable so as to project laterally of the boatabove water level, a mooring line, a releasable hook device mounted onthe boom for releasably engaging the mooring line at a position spacedfrom the boat and permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop ofline between the hook device and the boat partially in the water, andhook device control means for enabling the release of the mooring linefrom the hook device to be effected as desired, the loop then narrowing.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference tothe accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 represents a side view of the forward part of a boat ofmoderate size at one stage in the making fast of the boat, the drawingincluding a part in chain lines indicating the position of the deviceand the boat at'a later stage,

Figure 2 represents a plan view' corresponding to Figure 1,

Figure 3 representsan elevation of part of the dew'ce I Figure 6represents a plan view corresponding to Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a plan view showing a further device in accordance with myinvention mounted on the fore part of a boat, and H Figure 8 is a viewin the direction of the arrow 8 in Figure 7.

Referring first to that form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to4 the mooring device is illustrated as being mounted on a boat 10 ofmoderate size, for example a yacht or cabin cruiser and the deviceincludes a mooring line 11 which is in the form of a length of lightchain which may, for example, be approximately 24 feet in length, thechain being composed of links made from rod wire 7 inch in diameter.

One end of the mooring line 11 is secured at 12 to the boat and theother end of the mooring line is secured at 13 to the boat a shortdistance to the rear. The ends of the mooring line 11 may be secured atany suitable positions adjacent to the edge of the boat but arepreferably secured towards the forward end thereof and conveniently ator near that point where the deck is broadest as illustrated. Ifdesired, the line may extend from'the points 12 and 13, where it issecured, around a fairlead somewhat forward of the boom, thisarrangement enabling the hauling in of the line to be more readilyeffected.

The mooring device further includes a boom 14 in the form of acylindrical wooden rod. If desired the boom may be formed from othermaterial but is preferably of light weight so that it can be easilyhandled. The boom 14' may, for example, be about 6 feet long and itsinner end is so adapted as to enable the boom to be mounted so as toproject laterally of the boat abovewater level as illustrated. The boommounting device is'shown in Figures 3 and 4 and comprises a pair ofblocks 15 and 16 secured to the deck of the boat at laterally spacedpositions. The block 15 forms a rest carrying the Weight of the deviceand engaging a part of the boom 14 spaced from the inner end. The otherblock 16 forms a thrust member overlying a part of the boom 14 nearerthe inner end thereof. The block 16 is provided with a slot 17 assistingin the mounting of the boom and the block 15 is provided with a recess18"fixing the block 16 and adapted to receive a projecting block 19secured to the underside of the boom, these co-acting formations on' theboom and mounting device preventing inadvertent removal of the boom fromthe mounting device. It will be appreciated that when it is desired toremove the boom from the mounting device the outer part thereof may beraised thus removing the projecting block 19 from the recess 18 andenabling the boom to be movedoutwardly at the same time removing theinner end of the boom from the slot 17.

The mooring device further comprises a releasable hook device on theboom adjacent to the outer end thereof. This device comprises a pivotedhook 20 mounted in a vertical slot or sheath 21, the mouth of the hookbeing presented towards the side of the boat as seen in Figure 3. Thehook is pivoted at 22 and provided with an upwardly extending shank 23.Hook device control means are provided in the form of a hook controlcord 24 secured at one end to the shank 23 and extending longitudinallyof the boom 14 on the upper side thereof, the cord 24 passing through aneyelet 25 attached near the inner end of the boom, the cord thenextending rearwardly of the boat as seen in Figure 2. The hook 20 isnormally held in th'eposition shown by means of a spring actuatedplunger 26 mounted in a covered re-, cess in the boom. and acting on theshank-23' 'of the hook.

The terminal part of the hook 20 normally projects into a recess 27formed in the underside of the boom,

the, recess. being somewhat broader than the slot or sheath 21 withwhich, it is in communication, this slot or sheath being only slightlybroader than the hook 20. In Figure 3 the device is shown in itsassembled position with he hook ZOengaging a link 28 ot the mooring line11, the link projecting into the recess 27. V lhen the cord 24-is pulledthe hook pivots against the action. of the spring actuatedplunger 26 andthe link engaging part thereof is withdrawn from the recess 27 into theslot or sheath 21. The link 2% is unable to follow this part of the hookinto the slot or sheath and is thus positively released from the hookdevice.

To facilitate operation of thehook device the cord 24 extends rearwardlyof the boom and may terminate at a position adjacent to the tiller orwheelhouse (not shown) where it canconveniently, be operated by thehelmsman whilst at this post.

In use the link 28 of :themooring, line 11 is first engaged with thehook member before the boornis mount ed in position. The. boom is thenmounted asshown, the forward part of theline 11 extending towards theouterend of the boom frorn it Position of attachment 12 and theremainder of the line terminating at.13 is loosely stowed on thedeckadjacent to the boom.

On approaching the mooring buoy 29 this latter part of the line is castoverboard and drops into the water forming a buoy receiving loop 30which, on passage of the boat through the water approximates to. theshape illustrated. When the boomhas passed over the top of the buoy andthe relative positions of the buoy and the mooring device aresubstantially as shown in Figures 1 and 2 the hook control cord 24 ispulled and the link 28 of the line is thus released so that the line isthen free apart from its being secured to .the boat at the positions 12and 13. Owing to the weight of the line and the movement of the boat theloop 30 narrows and eventually the two sides of the loop come closelyadjacent to one another, theend of the loop becoming retentivelyengagedabout the anchor line 31 beneath the buoy 29. This engagementtakes place when the .boat has moved somewhat further forwardand therelativepositions of the boat, the buoy and line 11 are shown in Figures1 and 2 by the chain lines. In cases .where the line passes round afairlead forward of the boom the action is similar, the line then actingasif it were secured to the, boat at the fairlead.

'I have observed that in practice. when the line is en: gaged by .thehook device as .illustratedin the full lines in Figures .1 and 2 thatpart of the loop 30 tends to lie close to the surface, but that uponrelease of the line from the hookdevice the line immediately begins tosink, the sides of the loop moving together and the anchor line finallybeing engaged some little distance below the buoy. i

A particular advantage of the invention as applied to cabin cruisers orother boats provided with engines, is that as soon as the mooring buoyis observed to be within the buoy receiving loop 30 the forward movementof the boat'may'be checked by setting the engine to the astern positionand thereafter. the engine may be switched 01f, thus allowing ample timefor the helnisman to move to a position where he can haul in thetrailing loop after its engagement with the anchor line.

The danger of the boat colliding with other boats moored in the vicinityis thereby appreciably reduced as is also the danger which initiallyoccurs when proce dure through the 'helm srnan having to leaveahis postwhilstthei engine is switched on.

Atter securing the line to the boom initially the whole operation can,if necessary, be performed by the helmsman without leaving. his postsothat he can continue tokeep the boat accurately on course incomingralongside the. buoy.

I have found that a mooring line in the form of a length of chainhaving. the dimensions previously referred to is particularlyadvantageous in that it is heavy enough to form the required buoyreceiving loop at or just below the surface of the water when engaged bythe hook device and is sufiiciently flexible when released from the boomto close tightly about the anchor line 31, the links of the chaingripping the anchor line in a particularly effective manner.

An alternative form of mooring device in accordance with my invention isshown in Figures 5 and 6. The device is shown as mounted on a boat 32and includes a mooring line 33 similar to the mooring line 11 previouslydescribed. The device also includes a boom 34 similar to the boom 14,the boom 34 being mounted on a mounting device comprising a'rest35 inthe form of a bracket secured to the deck of the boat and provided witha recess at its upper edge, and a thrust member comprising a bracket 36provided with a vertical slot closed at its upper end. The boom isprovided with an inner end cap 38 having a slot 39*engaging with thebracket 36 and preventing inadvertent removal ofi-the boom from themounting device.

The mooring device also comprises a releasablehook device mounted on acarriage 40movable longitudinally of the boom 34 between a positionadjacent to the boat and a position. spaced from the boat, the carriagebeing shown in an intermediate position. The carriage comprises a sleevehaving a cylindrical bore slightly larger than the diameter of the boomso as to allow its free movement longitudinally of the boom.-Carriagemoving means are provided in the form of. a first line 41 extending directly from the carriage to the boat and a second line 42extending from thecarriage 40 to the outer end of the boom and around.areturn member which is in the form of an outer end cap 43 provided witha hole 4 of smoothly curved path, the second line then extending back tothe'boat, both-lines beingaccessible from the boat. The first and secondcarriage moving lines 41 and 42 are integrally connected at their innerends vand pass through a hole 45 in the inner end cap 38 this hole beingof similar shape to the hole .44 in'the outer end cap 43. It will beappreciated from this description that with the aid of these lines thecarriage 40 can be moved to any desired position along the boom34.

Carriage securing means are provided for frictionally engaging at leastone of the carriage moving lines, these carriage securing meanscomprising formations 46 on the rest 35 around which the line concernedor both lines may be twisted in the manner illustrated in Figures 5 and6.

The releasable hook device on the carriage 40 comprises a sheath 47 inthe form of two triangular plates parallel with one another, and a hook48 pivoted with the aid of pivot pin 4-9 to the sheath 47. The book 48has a terminal portion 50 which normally projects from the sheath 47 butis capable of being withdrawn into the sheath 47 when the hook 418 ispivoted anti-clockwise as viewed in Figure 5 as by; means of the hookcontrol cord 51 secured to the hook. The terminal portion of the hookmay. engage the link 52 of the mooring line 33 as illustrated, the linebeing released when the cord 51 is pulled. The inner end of the cord 51passes through a hole in a lug 53 formed integrally with the inner endcap 38.

In use the boom is first mounted on the boat in the manner described andillustrated and the carriage, 40 is moved to a position accessible fromthe boat whereupon the link 52 is hooked on to the terminal portionSt)of the hook 418, The carriage is thenmoved to its. outer position inabutment with the outer end cap 43 and issecured at this position by theengagement between the first or second carriage moving lines or both ofthese lines with the formations 46. The line 33 is in all respectssimilar to the line 11, being secured to the side of the boat 32 in thesame manner as the line 11 is secured to the boat 10.

The subsequent operation of'the device is similar to resin bonded fibreglass, this latter substance being particularly resistant to corrosionsuch as might otherwise occur in the presence of water, particularly seawater. A further device in accordance with my invention is illustrateddiagrammatically in Figures 7 and 8, the device being shown as mountedon the fore part 54 of a boat. The device includes a boom whichcomprises an upper member 55 and lower member 56 connected together atone end and connected to an upright 57 at the other end. The boom mayconveniently be forme from wooden rods or from light metal tubes.

The boom is permanently mounted by means-of mounting device on the boat,this mounting device com: prising a bearing block 58 housing the lowerend of the upright 57 and acting as a thrust bearing, the device alsoincluding support lines 59 pivotally connected to the upright adjacentto the upper member 55 of the boom.

The mooring device also includes a mooring line 60 forming a buoyreceiving loop and passing by way-of fairlead 61 to the power operatedwinch 62. The mooring line 60 is releasably secured to the free end ofthe boom by either of the devices described with reference to Figures 1to 6. The operating means are not shown in Figures 7 and 8 and it is tobe understood that if the hook device is mounted on a carriage similarto that numbered 40 the carriage would be adapted to run longitudinallyof the lower member 56 of the boom.

In use the boom is swung into a position parallel with the side of theboat and the mooring line is secured to the hook device. The boom isthen swung outwardly to its operating position as illustrated, thisbeing effected either by operation of the winch 62 or by suitablemanoeuvring of the guide lines 63 which are secured adjacent to the freeend of the boom to the boat. The buoy receiving loop is formed as beforeand the mooring line released from the end of the boom at the desiredmoment. The winch 62 is then put into operation and the loop of themooring line is reduced in size so as to bring the anchor line into anaccessible position, the boom being swung back to its stowed positionparallel with the side of the boat by means of the guide lines 63. Thepower operated winch 62 may be replaced by a hand operated winch.

What I then claim is:

1. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, mountable so as toproject laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, areleasable hook device mounted on the boom for releasably engaging themooring line at a position spaced from the boat and permitting theformation of a buoy receiving loop of line between the hook device andthe boat partially in the water, and hook device control means forenabling the release of the mooring line from the hook device to beeffected as desired, the loop then narrowing.

2. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, a boom mounting deviceon the boat comprising a rest engageable with a part of the boom spacedfrom the inner end thereof, and a thrust member for overlying a part ofthe boom nearer to the inner end thereof than that part engageable withthe rest, co-acting formations on the boom and mounting devicepreventing inadvertent removal of the boom from the mounting device, theboom when mounted projecting laterally of the boat above water level, amooring line, a releasable hook device mounted on the boom forreleasably engaging themooring line ing line from the hook device to beeffected as desired,

the loop then narrowing.

3. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, mountable so as toproject laterally of the boat above the water level, a mooring line, apivoted hook on the boom for releasably engaging the mooring line at aposition spaced from the boat and permitting the formation of a buoyreceiving loop of line between the hook and the boat partially in thewater, and a hook control cord extending from the hook longitudinally ofthe boom to a position accessible from the boat for enabling the releaseof the mooring line from the hook to be effected as desired from .theboat, the loop then narrowing.

4. In aboat, a mooring device comprising. a boom, mountable so as toproject laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, areleasable hook device mounted on the boom for releasably engaging themoor ing line at a position spaced from the boat and permitting theformation of a buoy receiving loop of line between the hook device andthe boat partially in the water, the hook device comprising a hook witha terminal line engaging part, and a hook receiving sheath, the mooringdevice including hook device control means for causing relative movementbetween the hook and sheath-for enabling positive release of the mooringline to be effected as desired, the loop then narrowing.

5. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, mountable so as toproject laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, apivoted hook on the boom for releasably engaging the mooring line at aposition spaced from the boat and permitting the formation of a buoyreceiving loop of line between the hook and the boat partially in thewater, the hook having a terminal line engaging part, a hook sheathbeing provided for receiving said part on pivotal movement of the hook,and a hook control cord extending from the hook longitudinally of theboom to a position accessible from the boat for enabling said pivotalmovement of the hook and consequent release of the mooring line from thehook to be effected as desired from the boat, the loop then narrowmg.

6. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, mountable so as toproject laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, acarriage movable longitudinally of the boom between a position adjacentto the boat and a position spaced from the boat, carriage moving meansand carriage securing means both operable from the boat, a releasablehook device mounted on the carriage for releasably engaging the mooringline and accessible from the boat when the carriage is adjacent to theboat, and when at a position spaced from the boat permitting theformation of a buoy receiving loop of line between the hook device andthe boat partially in the water, and hook device control means forenabling the release of the mooring line from the hook device to beeffected as desired when the carriage is spaced from the boat, the loopthen narrowing.

7. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, mountable so as toproject laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, acarriage movable longitudinally of the boom between a position adjacmentto the boat and a position spaced from the boat, a first carriage movingline extending directly from the carriage to the boat and a secondcarriage moving line, a return member on the boom spaced from the boat,the second carriage moving line extending from the carriage around thereturn member to the boat, both carriage moving lines being accessiblefrom the boat, carriage securing means accessible from the boat forfrictionally engaging at least one of the carriage moving lines, areleasable hook device mounted on the boom for releasably engaging themooring line and accessible from the .boat when the carriage is adjacentto the boat, and when at a position spaced from the boat permitting theformation of a buoy receiving .loop of line between the hook device andthe boat partially in the water, and hook device control means forenabling the release of the mooring line from the hook device to beefiected as desired when the carriage is spaced from the .boat, the loopthen narrowing.

8. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, aboom mounting deviceenabling the boom to .be mounted so as to project laterally of the boatabove water level, a mooring line, secured at each end to :the boatadjacent to the boom mounting device, a releasable hook device mountedonthe boom vfor releasably engaging the mooring line at aposition spacedfrom the boat and permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop ofline between the hook device and the boatipart'ially in the water, andhook device control means for enabling the release of the mooring linefrom the hook device to be ettected vas desired, the loop thennarrowing.

9. In a boat, a mooring device comprising ,a boom, a boom mountingdevice on the boat, the boom and device being pivotally connectedenabling the boom to be swung from a stowed position such that itprojects laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, areleasable hook device mounted on the boom for releasably engaging themooring line at a position spaced from the boat and permitting theformation of a buoy receiving loop of line between the hook device andthe boat partially 'in the water when the boom is in its operatingposition, and hook device control means for enabling the release of themooring line from the hook device to be efiected as desired, the'loopthen narrowing.

10. A mooring device for .a boat, comprising a boom, amooring line, areleasable hook device mounted on the boom forlreleasably engaging themooring line and permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop ofline from the boom, and hook device control means for enabling therelease of the mooring line from the hook device to be effectedas'desired, the loop then narrowing.

11. A mooring device for a boat, comprising a boom, a boom mountingdevice comprising a rest engageable with a'par t 'of'theboom spaced fromthe inner end thereof, and a thrust member for overlying a part of theboom nearer to the inner end thereof than that part engageable with therest, co-acting formations on the boom and mounting device preventinginadvertent removal of the boom from the mounting device, a mooringline, a releasable hook device mounted on the boom for releasablyengaging the mooringTline at a position spaced from the mounting deviceand permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop of line from thehook device, and hook device control means for enabling the release ofthe mooring line from the hook device to be effected as desired, theloop thenznarrowing.

References Cited in'the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS653,021 Hamilton. July 3, 1900 1,536,701 Buckingham et a1 a May 5, 19252,347,718 Terry May 2, 1944 'FGREIGN PATENTS 1,073,558 France Mar. 24,:1954

